Spending Trade-offs Could Have Long-term Implications for Academic Recovery

For school districts trying to stretch their resources, the $190 billion in federal pandemic relief money was a huge help in shoring up their outdated infrastructure and repairing systems like HVAC and plumbing. But these spending trade-offs could have long-term implications for academic recovery.

An analysis by the Associated Press of data from the education market research firm Burbio found that the poorest 20% of districts in each state were more likely to dedicate relief funds to new construction and facilities repairs.

One school administrator the AP interviewed—Superintendent Quintin Shepherd of Texas’ Victoria Independent School District—explained the decision-making process for the $28.4 million his district received in the last round of relief funds.

You may recognize Quintin’s name from one of SWPR’s collaborative projects; our founder Sarah Williamson co-authored the book “The Secret to Transformational Leadership” with him in 2022—and we helped connect the AP with Quintin for this story.

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